Even though Incheon Port, Korean people and the whole of the international community underwent hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Incheon Port Authority (IPA) President Choi Jun-wook disclosed his determination to “move forward in strength with trust and hope our tomorrow will be better than today, on the occasion of the New Year.
The following are excerpts of the IPA President Choi’s New Year’s message.
Owing to shipping companies, operators and employees, Incheon Port operated without interruption, including achieving 3 million TEU of cargo volumes for the fifth consecutive year, the most ever, attracting new maritime routes, suppling port hinterland complexes, the recruiting of smart auto valley tenant companies and redevelopment projects of inner port’s first and eight wharves.
In the upcoming “next normal” era, a new paradigm, which has never experienced so far, will be unfold, so we need to brace for it. To this end, I propose some recommendations.
A whole view of Sun Kwang Newport Container Terminal at Incheon New Port.
First, IPA will make preparations to create specialized cargo volumes, secure maritime routes and resume maritime tourism. Even though Incheon Port achieved the largest-ever cargo volume last year, the growth rate had slowed down due to the disruption of the supply chain in the second half of last year.
Incheon Port will concentrate on attracting specialized cargo volumes, coupled with Songdo’s bio lab and other regional industries and geological advances of the Seoul metropolitan area and Incheon International Airport, securing new maritime routes and building infrastructure to raise cargo volumes on a stable basis.
We’ll build a stable and reliable supply chain to make preparations for the brisk restoration of Korean-Chinese exchanges in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in August and the resumption of Korean-Chinese car ferries. With the reopening of the Incheon-Jeju route and the attraction of world cruises, the maritime tourism is also returning to normal.
Second, we should try to build logistic infrastructure corresponding to demand and implement functional paradigm shift. Incheon Port is developing new demand and a shift in functions in the wake of the introduction of new technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution and changes of the economic structure.
Third, we’re making preparations for the future through the building of a digital management environment.
The conventional face-to-face economy is shifting into a non-face-to-face one in the wake of the introduction of digital technologies and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have to predict the next normal era in advance and spearhead changes.
In particular, Incheon Port will have to realize a smart port based on the “Digital New Deal” by aggressively adopting the technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution such as big data, AI and other digital sectors and play pump-priming for securing future competitiveness and economic recovery.
Fifth, we have to implement ESG management for sustainable development.
Sixth, IPA will build trust, integrity, fairness and safety.
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